From Landscaper to Kingdom Connector: Chris Hood's Journey of Surrender and Purpose

Chris Hood: From Ambition to Spiritual Purpose

Chris Hood, once a successful landscaper driven by worldly ambition, now stands as a 'Kingdom Connector,' leading 828 LLC/Hoodscapes with a profound spiritual focus. His journey, marked by a pivotal near-death experience, transformed his understanding of success, purpose, and service.

Hood's landscaping career began at 16, fueled by a desire to earn respect through hard work. This drive led to a highly successful business with 300 employees and a three-year project backlog. Despite this outward success, Hood felt an increasing sense of unfulfillment. A 'blessing' in 2003, a multi-million dollar project, ironically highlighted his lack of character to handle such an influx of wealth, leading to personal strife and a narcissistic focus.

The Super Bowl Sunday Turning Point

The turning point arrived on Super Bowl Sunday 2004. A high-speed snowmobile accident on a frozen river catapulted him onto a small snow island. In that moment, at 34, he realized he had never truly stopped. The profound peace he felt, amidst a heavy snowfall, brought a stark realization of his materialistic and shallow life. He recognized his failure to appreciate his family, employees, and the beauty around him. This experience, which he believes was God holding him, fundamentally altered his life's trajectory.

For the next decade, Hood continued landscaping but with a transformed mindset. In 2014, during a Bible study, he prayed for God to reveal his purpose, even if it meant starting from 'zero.' This prayer led to the surrender of his business, his home, and his comfort zone. This act of obedience opened doors to unexpected opportunities, connecting him with leaders and ministries worldwide. He became the 'Chief Servant Officer' of 828, named after Romans 8:28, which speaks of all things working for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose. Hood emphasizes that this means partnering with God to build His kingdom, not one's own.

A Life of Surrender and Kingdom Connections

Hood's daily focus is now on being an 'intercessory prayer partner,' walking through life with 'hands up and open,' asking God how to bless His children. He shares countless stories of divine connections, from being invited to international ministries and prisons to leading spiritual direction for philanthropic families. His approach is rooted in Bob Bodine's 'Two Chairs' concept: setting up two chairs, one for God and one for himself, and asking, 'How do you want me to bless your children today?'

One recent example highlights the power of surrender. Feeling led to help a friend from Zimbabwe attend a training, Hood and his wife, despite financial concerns, contributed. This act of generosity led to unexpected provision for Hood to attend the same training, with all expenses covered. During this trip, he was asked to pray over a cleaning company in Orlando. He identified their 'break room' as a 'war room' and encouraged them to write their vision based on Habakkuk 2:2-3. This led to a complete transformation of their business, growing from 125 employees with no profit to 870 employees and significant profitability, eventually being recognized as the State of Florida's 2024 Small Business of the Year. This success, they attest, stemmed from surrendering their business to God's will.

Hood also practices 'circle praying,' taking dominion of properties for God's kingdom by marking corners and praying for blessing. He emphasizes the importance of legal spiritual authority and invitation when engaging in such practices.

Lessons for Leaders: Servant Leadership and Obedience

Chris Hood's advice to leaders and individuals is simple yet profound: Be a servant leader. Serve your employees, serve the Lord, and recognize that each person is uniquely consecrated to advance God's kingdom. By collaborating and serving each other, understanding individual callings, and being obedient to God's promptings, individuals can experience life-changing and world-changing impact. His journey is a testament to the transformative power of surrender, obedience, and a relentless pursuit of God's purpose.